Apple's WWDC25 is in full swing, and as usual, it announced what's coming in its new range of software updates, due out this fall. Notably, they're all named after the year after they're released now, so we've for iOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, iPadOS 26, and tvOS 26.
The main thing that's changed is everything. Indeed, this is the largest visual overhaul since iOS 7 was introduced in 2013, using a new 'Liquid Glass' transparency element. While the UI itself is vastly changed, system apps like Messages, Photos, Phone, Music, and more all look totally different, and come with a range of new features.
While supported devices remain mostly the same, iOS 26 does drop support for a few models, specifically the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. These devices were released in 2018, so they got seven years of software updates, and will still get security updates that Apple continues to release on top of iOS 18.
Apple's iOS 26 update lets you take amazing 3D-like photos in a snap
They look seriously good.
The list of supported devices for iOS 26
First of all, the list of supported devices for Apple Intelligence features remains the same. For iOS, it's the iPhone 15 Pro series and full iPhone 16 series, and for the rest, it's the A17 Pro iPad Mini and all M-series iPads and Macs. As for the rest of the suite of features, these are the devices that are going to get it:
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
Apple has long been a leader in support for its iPhones, driving companies like Google and Samsung to also promise seven years of software updates for its devices. Of course, those two companies are still in the "promise" stage of that, as neither of them have any devices from 2019 that are still receiving updates at this time. Those promises are relatively new, over the last couple of years.
One other important change to support comes from macOS 26. Apple confirmed that this is going to be the last major update for Intel Macs, having switched to Apple Silicon with the M1 in 2020. If you have an Intel Mac, you'll still be getting a few years of security updates, so you don't have to rush out to the Apple Store just yet.
